Organizational Behavior Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace 6Th Edition By Colquitt - Test Bank Instant Download - Complete Test Bank With Answers Sample Questions Are Posted Below Organizational Behavior, 6e (Colquitt) Chapter 5 Stress 1) The particular demands that cause people to experience stress are called strains. …
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Organizational Behavior Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace 6Th Edition By Colquitt – Test Bank
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Sample Questions Are Posted Below
Organizational Behavior, 6e (Colquitt)
Chapter 5 Stress
1) The particular demands that cause people to experience stress are called strains.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Stress is defined as a psychological response to demands that possess certain stakes for the person and that tax or exceed the person’s capacity or resources. The demands that cause people to experience stress are called stressors.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
2) When people first encounter stressors, the process of primary appraisal is triggered.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: When people first encounter stressors, the process of primary appraisal is triggered. Primary appraisal occurs as people evaluate the significance and the meaning of the stressor they are confronting.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
3) Hindrance stressors often trigger positive emotions such as pride and enthusiasm.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Challenge stressors often trigger positive emotions such as pride and enthusiasm.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
4) Role ambiguity is often experienced among new employees who have not been around long enough to receive instructions from supervisors or observe and model the role behaviors of more senior colleagues.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Role ambiguity is often experienced among new employees who have not been around long enough to receive instructions from supervisors or observe and model the role behaviors of more senior colleagues.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
5) Most people appraise situations with high time pressure as rather stressful, and they also tend to appraise these situations as more hindering than challenging.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Although most people appraise situations with high time pressure as rather stressful, they also tend to appraise these situations as more challenging than hindering.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
6) Kathleen thought her college studies had prepared her completely for her new job as a restaurant manager. She is completely surprised by the amount of responsibility that has immediately been given to her and the number of skills she is expected to already have. Combined with the amount of pressure she is under to get all the staffing and ordering forms filled out and filed, she is feeling quite stressed. Kathleen is experiencing work-related challenge stress.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Work-related challenge stressors include time pressure, work complexity, and work responsibility.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
7) Work-family conflict is an example of work hindrance stressor.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Nonwork hindrance stressors include work-family conflict, a special form of role conflict in which the demands of a work role hinder the fulfillment of the demands of a family role (or vice versa).
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Work-family conflict
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
8) Family time demands include participation in formal education programs, music lessons, sports-related training, hobby-related self-education, participation in local government, and volunteer work.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Family time demands refer to the time that a person commits to participate in an array of family activities and responsibilities. Specific examples of family time demands include time spent involved in family pursuits such as traveling, attending social events and organized activities, hosting parties, and planning and making home improvements.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Work-family conflict
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
9) A critical factor that determines coping strategy choice is the degree to which people believe that a particular strategy gives them some degree of control over the stressor or how they feel about it.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A critical factor that determines coping strategy choice is the degree to which people believe that a particular strategy gives them some degree of control over the stressor or how they feel about it.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
10) Stressors can cause gastrointestinal system problems.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Stressors cause gastrointestinal system problems. Symptoms of this type of strain include stomachaches, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
11) Social support refers to the help that people receive when they are confronted with stressful demands.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Social support refers to the help that people receive when they are confronted with stressful demands.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
12) Instrumental support refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Instrumental support refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Social support
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
13) Hindrance stressors have a strong positive relationship with job performance.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Hindrance stressors have a weak negative relationship with job performance. A general explanation for this negative relationship is that hindrance stressors result in strains and negative emotions that reduce the overall level of physical, cognitive, and emotional energy that people could otherwise bring to their job duties.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
14) Challenge stressors have a weak positive relationship with job performance.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Challenge stressors have a weak positive relationship with job performance. People who experience higher levels of challenge stressors tend to have higher levels of task performance.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
15) Challenge stressors have a moderate negative relationship with organizational commitment.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Challenge stressors have a moderate positive relationship with organizational commitment. People who experience higher levels of challenge stressors tend to have higher levels of affective commitment and normative commitment. Relationships with continuance commitment are weaker.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
16) The first step in managing stress is to assess colleagues in the workplace.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The first step in managing stress is to assess the level and sources of stress in the workplace.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
17) Hindrance stressors such as role ambiguity, conflict, and overload not only cause strain but also decrease commitment and job performance.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Hindrance stressors such as role ambiguity, conflict, and overload not only cause strain but also decrease commitment and job performance.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
18) Supportive practices are one way of helping employees cope with stressful demands.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: One of the ways that organizations provide resources to employees so that they can cope more effectively is through supportive practices that help employees manage and balance the demands that exist in the different roles they have.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
19) In general, relaxation techniques to reduce strain attempt to help people appraise and cope with stressors in a more rational manner.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Although relaxation techniques differ, their basic idea is the same—they teach people how to counteract the effects of stressors by engaging in activities that slow the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
20) Exercise programs are particularly successful because they reduce the types of stressors that employees encounter.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Exercise programs reduce the strain felt by employees, not the number or type of stressors.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
21) Which of the following is defined as a psychological response to demands for which there is something at stake and coping with those demands taxes or exceeds a person’s capacity or resources?
Answer: D
Explanation: Stress is defined as a psychological response to demands for which there is something at stake and coping with those demands taxes or exceeds a person’s capacity or resources.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
22) ________ are the particular demands that cause people to experience stress.
Answer: A
Explanation: Stress is defined as a psychological response to demands for which there is something at stake and coping with those demands taxes or exceeds a person’s capacity or resources. The particular demands that cause people to experience stress are called stressors.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
23) First, the network went down, then the guy in the next cubicle would not stop clearing his throat, and now Delia cannot find a sticky note when she needs one. Delia’s head hurts, her shoulders are tense, and her back aches. Which of the following statements is true?
Answer: B
Explanation: Broken copy machines, irritatingly loud coworkers, and lack of supplies are all examples of stressors resulting from daily hassles. Headaches and gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal problems are examples of strains resulting from stress caused by stressors.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
24) ________ are the negative consequences that occur when demands tax or exceed one’s capacity or resources.
Answer: A
Explanation: The negative consequences that occur when demands tax or exceed one’s capacity or resources are called strains.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
25) Nobuko is a customer service representative at Call Center Central. She thought a job answering phones all day would be easy, and at first it seemed to be. But over time, the large daily call volume and number of angry or aggressive callers made her edgy, and she found herself being short with customers for no reason. She started having muscle spasms and began to get headaches while at work. Nobuko’s physical symptoms are examples of
Answer: E
Explanation: The negative consequences that occur when demands tax or exceed a person’s capacity or resources are called strains.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
26) Which of the following best exemplifies benign job demands?
Answer: E
Explanation: Job demands that tend not to be appraised as stressful are called benign job demands.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
27) The transactional theory of stress deals with
Answer: B
Explanation: The transactional theory of stress explains how stressors are perceived and appraised (primary appraisal), as well as how people respond to the perceptions (secondary appraisal).
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
28) When people first encounter stressors, the process of ________ is triggered.
Answer: C
Explanation: Primary appraisal occurs as people evaluate the significance and meaning of the stressors they are confronting. Here, people first consider whether a demand causes them to feel stressed, and if it does, they consider the implications of the stressor in terms of their personal goals and overall well-being.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
29) Judy has just started a new job as a checker at Farmer’s Grocery. It is her first job after graduating from high school, and she hopes to save enough money in the first year to be able to move in with her boyfriend. In her first week, she befriends two other new checkers, Silvio and Natasha, and she finds the majority of customers to be polite and sociable. At the end of her first week on the job, she checks the upcoming week’s work schedule only to discover that she is scheduled to have Tuesday and Friday off instead of Wednesday and Thursday as she requested. She is disappointed because her boyfriend has Wednesdays and Thursdays off from his job as a waiter, and their conflicting schedules means she will not be able to see him much. The next week, she finds that she has Tuesday and Saturday off, despite once again requesting Wednesday and Thursday off. The week after that, she finds herself feeling anxious about going into the break room because she is reluctant to find out if her days off are again different from what she requested. According to what you know about the transactional theory of stress, what will be the next step Judy takes?
Answer: E
Explanation: The transactional theory of stress explains how stressors are perceived and appraised, as well as how people respond to those perceptions and appraisals. When people first encounter stressors, the process of primary appraisal is triggered. Primary appraisal occurs as people evaluate the significance and the meaning of the stressor they are confronting. Here, people first consider whether a demand causes them to feel stressed, and if it does, they consider the implications of the stressor in terms of their personal goals and overall well-being.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
30) ________ occurs as people evaluate the significance and the meaning of the stressors they are confronting.
Answer: A
Explanation: Primary appraisal occurs as people evaluate the significance and the meaning of the stressors they are confronting. Here, people first consider whether a demand causes them to feel stressed, and if it does, they consider the implications of the stressor in terms of their personal goals and overall well-being.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
31) Alberto works as a receptionist for a graphic design firm. His daily job duties include making copies, replying to e-mails, answering phones, and greeting people who enter the office. This suite of tasks, when they are not overly taxing or exceeding his capacity, are called
Answer: A
Explanation: Job demands that tend not to be appraised as stressful are called benign job demands.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
32) Which of the following is an example of a strain?
Answer: B
Explanation: The negative consequences that occur when demands tax or exceed a person’s capacity or resources are called strains.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
33) ________ are stressful demands that are perceived as hindering progress toward personal accomplishments or goal attainment.
Answer: D
Explanation: Hindrance stressors tend to trigger negative emotions such as anger and anxiety. In contrast, managing additional responsibilities or higher workloads has a long-term benefit, in that it helps build the employee’s skills.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
34) ________ are stressful demands that are perceived as opportunities for learning, growth, and achievement.
Answer: A
Explanation: Having to deal with additional responsibilities is likely to be perceived by most employees as having long-term benefits. These kinds of stressors are called challenge stressors, or stressful demands that people tend to perceive as opportunities for learning, growth, and achievement.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
35) Which of these is a work hindrance stressor?
Answer: E
Explanation: Role overload occurs when the number of demanding roles a person holds is so high that the person simply cannot perform some or all of the roles very effectively. Role overload as a source of stress is becoming very prevalent for employees in many different industries.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
36) ________ is a work hindrance stressor that occurs from incompatible demands within a single role that a person may hold.
Answer: E
Explanation: Role conflict refers to conflicting expectations that other people may have of us.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
37) ________ refers to a work hindrance stressor that occurs when the number of demanding roles a person holds is so high that the person simply cannot perform some or all of the roles very effectively.
Answer: C
Explanation: Role overload occurs when the number of demanding roles a person holds is so high that the person simply cannot perform some or all of the roles very effectively.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
38) Alejandro hires Leona as a new sales coordinator at Rainproof Outdoor Gear after the previous coordinator quit unexpectedly. After she completes orientation, Alejandro needs Leona to quickly plan an upcoming sales meeting for all of the company’s field sales representatives, who will be gathering at the office in a week to go over the new product line. Despite the fact that her predecessor did little planning for the meeting before she left, Leona wants to make a good impression and begins to prepare the meeting even though she has never planned one before. Three days before the meeting, Alejandro observes Leona in a conference room pacing back and forth and wearing a slightly dazed expression as she shuffles papers around on the table. It is obvious to Alejandro that she is trying to block out meeting rooms for each sales representative group, determine the duration of each presentation, and figure out what kinds of audio-visual equipment will be needed in each room. When he asks if she needs help, Leona smiles and says, “Nope! I’ve got it all under control.” However, Alejandro can tell she is struggling to get things right. Based on what you know about the different types of work hindrance stressors, what should Alejandro do?
Answer: A
Explanation: Leona suffers from the work hindrance stressor role ambiguity, which refers to a lack of information about what needs to be done in a role, as well as unpredictability regarding the consequences of performance in that role. Employees are sometimes asked to work on projects for which they are given very few instructions or guidelines about how things are supposed to be done.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
39) Angela is working as the head of sales at Blue Mountain Cola. Her work requires her to travel extensively and meet customers in various countries. However, Angela’s role also requires her to mentor several sales representatives who work under her and keep track of their progress. Because Angela stays away from her office most of the time, she finds it difficult to manage both types of work responsibilities. Angela faces which of the following challenges?
Answer: B
Explanation: One type of work-related hindrance stressor is role conflict, which refers to conflicting expectations that other people may have of us. Angela is experiencing role conflict because she is expected to travel and meet clients, as well as mentor and track the performance of the sales representatives assigned to her.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
40) Kwame, Rosalinda, and Sven work at Security First Trust and National Reserve, a medium-sized bank with 240 branches in eight states. Kwame works as a teller. Rosalinda works as one of five regional supervisors, each of whom is expected to supervise a team of tellers. Kwame recently received instructions from his supervisor that all tellers will be evaluated on the number of people they assist at their window per day. Serving more customers means higher performance effectiveness. However, Kwame is also expected to follow the bank’s number-one goal of customer satisfaction. Rosalinda is facing her own challenges. Two of the regional supervisors suddenly left the bank for other opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in work responsibility and time pressure for Rosalinda and the remaining two supervisors. Just two days before the two regional supervisors quit, the bank hired Sven as a supervisor trainee. With the bank suddenly short-handed, Sven was asked to take up all the responsibilities of a regional supervisor. He has been given very few instructions or guidelines about how things are supposed to be done. Instead, the bank expects him to learn on the job. Kwame is facing which type of stressor?
Answer: B
Explanation: Kwame is facing role conflict as a stressor, which is a work hindrance stressor. Role conflict refers to conflicting expectations that other people may have of us. It occurs from incompatible demands within a single role that a person may hold.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
41) Kwame, Rosalinda, and Sven work at Security First Trust and National Reserve, a medium-sized bank with 240 branches in eight states. Kwame works as a teller. Rosalinda works as one of five regional supervisors, each of whom is expected to supervise a team of tellers. Kwame recently received instructions from his supervisor that all tellers will be evaluated on the number of people they assist at their window per day. Serving more customers means higher performance effectiveness. However, Kwame is also expected to follow the bank’s number-one goal of customer satisfaction. Rosalinda is facing her own challenges. Two of the regional supervisors suddenly left the bank for other opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in work responsibility and time pressure for Rosalinda and the remaining two supervisors. Just two days before the two regional supervisors quit, the bank hired Sven as a supervisor trainee. With the bank suddenly short-handed, Sven was asked to take up all the responsibilities of a regional supervisor. He has been given very few instructions or guidelines about how things are supposed to be done. Instead, the bank expects him to learn on the job. Kwame, unable to meet both types of expectations associated with his role, is facing
Answer: B
Explanation: Role conflict refers to conflicting expectations that other people may have of us. Kwame is facing a conflict between the focus on customer satisfaction and the need for effectiveness, measured by the number of customers attended to.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
42) Kwame, Rosalinda, and Sven work at Security First Trust and National Reserve, a medium-sized bank with 240 branches in eight states. Kwame works as a teller. Rosalinda works as one of five regional supervisors, each of whom is expected to supervise a team of tellers. Kwame recently received instructions from his supervisor that all tellers will be evaluated on the number of people they assist at their window per day. Serving more customers means higher performance effectiveness. However, Kwame is also expected to follow the bank’s number-one goal of customer satisfaction. Rosalinda is facing her own challenges. Two of the regional supervisors suddenly left the bank for other opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in work responsibility and time pressure for Rosalinda and the remaining two supervisors. Just two days before the two regional supervisors quit, the bank hired Sven as a supervisor trainee. With the bank suddenly short-handed, Sven was asked to take up all the responsibilities of a regional supervisor. He has been given very few instructions or guidelines about how things are supposed to be done. Instead, the bank expects him to learn on the job. Sven is encountering stress resulting from
Answer: C
Explanation: Role ambiguity refers to a lack of information about what needs to be done in a role, as well as unpredictability regarding the consequences of performance in that role. Sven has been asked to take over as regional supervisor and learn on the job. Because Sven is new to the job, it would be hard for him to take over all the responsibility.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
43) Kwame, Rosalinda, and Sven work at Security First Trust and National Reserve, a medium-sized bank with 240 branches in eight states. Kwame works as a teller. Rosalinda works as one of five regional supervisors, each of whom is expected to supervise a team of tellers. Kwame recently received instructions from his supervisor that all tellers will be evaluated on the number of people they assist at their window per day. Serving more customers means higher performance effectiveness. However, Kwame is also expected to follow the bank’s number-one goal of customer satisfaction. Rosalinda is facing her own challenges. Two of the regional supervisors suddenly left the bank for other opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in work responsibility and time pressure for Rosalinda and the remaining two supervisors. Just two days before the two regional supervisors quit, the bank hired Sven as a supervisor trainee. With the bank suddenly short-handed, Sven was asked to take up all the responsibilities of a regional supervisor. He has been given very few instructions or guidelines about how things are supposed to be done. Instead, the bank expects him to learn on the job. Rosalinda’s stress is related to a
Answer: D
Explanation: One type of work-related challenge stressor is time pressure—a strong sense that the amount of time you have to do a task is just not quite enough. When the two supervisors quit, the pressure on Rosalinda increases due to there being fewer people capable of handling the supervisory tasks. Hence, she is facing a work challenge stressor.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
44) Which of these is a work challenge stressor?
Answer: A
Explanation: Daily hassles, role overload, role ambiguity, and role conflict are examples of work hindrance stressors. Time pressure is a work challenge stressor.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
45) ________ refer(s) to the lack of information regarding what needs to be done in a role, as well as unpredictability regarding the consequences of performance in that role.
Answer: D
Explanation: Role ambiguity refers to a lack of information about what needs to be done in a role, as well as unpredictability regarding the consequences of performance in that role.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
46) Meilla is the vice president of marketing at a medical supply company. In a typical work week, she is required to attend three departmental meetings, prepare progress reports, sit in on job interviews for other departments, have one-on-one meetings with each of her five managers, and travel to a satellite location where mock-ups of new products are photographed for catalogs. Most weeks, Meilla puts in more than 70 hours at the office, and she often responds to e-mails while watching movies at home on the weekends. Despite this, she finds herself falling behind. Meilla’s experience is an example of
Answer: C
Explanation: Role overload occurs when the number of demanding roles a person holds is so high that the person simply cannot perform some or all of the roles effectively.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
47) Gregor has worked in software quality assurance for three years, but is looking for opportunities at other companies as a means to increase his salary and gain responsibility. To prepare for his interview for a software engineer position, he studies programming in his spare time and asks friends who are already programmers for interview tips. Despite his relative lack of experience, he is thrilled when the human resources manager for the new company calls to tell him he has been hired. Although he is eager to please his new boss, he gets nervous when his first assignment requires him to implement a new user interface feature in a programming language he is not very familiar with. While feeling a bit anxious about his ability to complete the task, he uses online tutorials and asks for guidance from co-workers to help him achieve his goal. He has to work late for three nights, but by the end of the week, he is proud to have accomplished the task successfully and have learned new skills in the process. Gregor’s path to success is an example of
Answer: B
Explanation: Work complexity refers to the degree to which the requirements of the work—in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities—tax or exceed the capabilities of the person who is responsible for performing the work. Although these types of experiences tend to be quite stressful, workers report that being stretched beyond their capacity is well worth the associated discomfort.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Task complexity
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
48) Which of the following reflect(s) the relatively minor routine demands that get in the way of accomplishing the things that we really want to accomplish?
Answer: B
Explanation: Daily hassles refer to the relatively minor day-to-day demands that get in the way of accomplishing the things that we really want to accomplish. Examples of hassles include having to deal with unnecessary paperwork, office equipment malfunctions, annoying interactions with abrasive coworkers, and useless communications.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
49) Which of the following is a work challenge stressor?
Answer: A
Explanation: One type of work-related challenge stressor is work complexity, which is the degree to which the requirements of the work—in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities—tax or exceed the capabilities of the person who is responsible for performing the work.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
50) Which of the following refers to the degree to which the requirements of the work—in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities—tax or exceed the capabilities of the person who is responsible for performing the work?
Answer: C
Explanation: Work complexity refers to the degree to which the requirements of the work—in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities—tax or exceed the capabilities of the person who is responsible for performing the work.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Task complexity
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
51) ________ refers to the nature of the obligations that a person has toward others.
Answer: E
Explanation: Work responsibility refers to the nature of the obligations that a person has toward others. Generally speaking, the level of responsibility in a job is higher when the number, scope, and importance of the obligations in that job are higher.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
52) Beth is a senior accountant at The American Bank. Her job profile includes preparing monthly financial statements, getting high-net-worth individuals to invest in the bank, and dealing with people who want loans above $30,000. Her work involves a lot of paperwork and she frequently travels to meet clients. The end of each month is especially busy because Beth has to check the audit reports as well. Unable to handle the pressure, Beth speaks to her boss and asks to be given an assistant. This is an example of
Answer: C
Explanation: Role overload occurs when the number of demanding roles a person holds is so high that the person simply cannot perform some or all of the roles effectively. Role overload as a source of stress is becoming very prevalent for employees in many different industries, and in fact, studies have shown that this source of stress is more prevalent than both role conflict and role ambiguity.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
53) Work-family conflict is a type of ________ stressor.
Answer: A
Explanation: One example of nonwork hindrance stressors is work-family conflict, a special form of role conflict in which the demands of a work role hinder the fulfillment of the demands of a family role (or vice versa).
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Work-family conflict
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
54) According to research, which of the following is considered the most stressful life event?
Answer: D
Explanation: The death of a spouse is the most stressful life event.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Work-family conflict
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
55) Which of the following is a nonwork hindrance stressor?
Answer: E
Explanation: Financial uncertainty is a nonwork hindrance stressor. This type of stressor refers to conditions that create uncertainties with regard to the loss of livelihood, savings, or the ability to pay expenses. This type of stressor is highly relevant during recessions or economic downturns.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
56) Which of these is a nonwork challenge stressor?
Answer: D
Explanation: Positive life events like marriage, pregnancy, the addition of a new family member, and ending school are all stressful in their own way. However, each is associated with some positive, rather than negative, emotions.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
57) Family time demands are what type of stressor?
Answer: A
Explanation: Family time demands represent a nonwork challenge stressor that reflects the time that a person commits to participate in an array of family activities and responsibilities.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Work-family conflict
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
58) Activities including participation in formal education programs, music lessons, sports-related training, hobby-related self-education, and volunteer work are examples of
Answer: E
Explanation: Personal development activities include participation in formal education programs, music lessons, sports-related training, hobby related self-education, participation in local government, or volunteer work.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Personal development
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
59) ________ refer(s) to the behaviors and thoughts that people use to manage both the stressful demands that they face and the emotions associated with those stressful demands.
Answer: A
Explanation: Coping refers to the behaviors and thoughts that people use to manage both the stressful demands that they face and the emotions associated with those stressful demands. The first part of the coping definition highlights the idea that methods of coping can be categorized on the basis of whether they involve behaviors or cognitions.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
60) Lupe is the assistant editor at the Voice of Today, an online publication. With recent increased readership, the editorial committee had decided to move up the deadline for article submissions to eight hours. This move was not welcomed by the junior writers and editors. Lupe, though unhappy with the decision, faces the problem head on and choses to cope by working faster and harder. This is an example of ________ coping.
Answer: B
Explanation: Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation. Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Because Lupe is managing the stressful situation itself by working harder and faster, the coping strategy can be classified as problem-focused behavior coping.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
61) Coping strategies can be viewed as either ________ focused.
Answer: A
Explanation: Coping strategies can be viewed as either problem or emotion focused.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
62) Which of the following is an example of behavioral coping?
Answer: A
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
63) Which of these is an example of problem-focused coping?
Answer: D
Explanation: Seeking assistance from coworkers, self-motivation, acquiring additional resources, and strategizing are examples of problem-focused coping.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
64) As manager of the accounting department at the Low Price Warehouse, Babette noticed that the cohesion of the collections team was rather low. Each team member was assigned a section of the alphabet, A-D, E-G, etc., and was responsible for calling only those customers within that particular range. In terms of division of labor, this worked well, but it also kept her employees in their own specific bubbles, resulting in few interactions between team members. To address this, Babette instituted mandatory Friday afternoon meetings where she would provide coffee and brownies, and employees would pair up, and each person would present the other’s weekly report to the entire group. She felt this would give the entire team a sense of what others were working on and would encourage healthy competition once everyone knew what everyone else’s stats were. As soon as she began holding the meetings, one of her best employees, Jermaine, began leaving the office just before the meetings began. He always turned his reports into her before he left, and they were always accurate and well written, but he never showed up at the meetings. When Babette talked to Jermaine about his absences, he sheepishly explained that he had a fear of talking in front of groups. Applying the concepts behind secondary appraisal, how should Babette deal with Jermaine’s avoidance issue?
Answer: B
Explanation: Secondary appraisal involves asking, “What should I do?” and “What can I do?” in response to a stressful situation. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation. An example of behavioral coping is an employee who has several daily hassles who avoids work by coming in late, leaving early, or even staying home. Problem-focused behavioral coping involves seeking assistance or acquiring additional resources to help manage the feelings of stress.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
65) Makayla was taking the trash out to the dumpster behind the bakery where she worked when she heard a loud noise. Just around the corner she saw her co-worker Narayan kicking at the brick wall and cursing under his breath. She asked him what was wrong, and he told her that his boss had denied his request for vacation even though it had been approved two months before. Narayan was told that due to the recent layoffs, they would be understaffed for the Thanksgiving holiday, and all previously approved vacation requests had been put on hold. Narayan was upset because this meant he would be unable to attend his cousin’s wedding, where he was looking forward to seeing his extended family. Narayan’s outburst is an example of ________ coping.
Answer: D
Explanation: Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation. Emotion-focused behavioral coping includes engaging in alternative activities, seeking support, and venting anger.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
66) Kristen attempts to address time pressure by working harder and seeking assistance in devising a strategy for accomplishing the work more efficiently. In the example, Kristen uses
Answer: C
Explanation: Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
67) Self-motivation and changing priorities are examples of ________ coping strategies.
Answer: D
Explanation: Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Cognitive coping refers to the thoughts that are involved in trying to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
68) Hector works as an office assistant for a small, five-person software development start-up. Since it is a relatively new company without extensive resources, Hector is constantly having to deal with a lack of supplies and faulty office equipment. While these problems sometimes get him down, the co-owners of the fledgling company are his friends from college, and he looks forward to seeing them every day. In order to offset his frustration with the sometimes inadequate equipment, Hector instead celebrates the fact that he gets to work in a casual environment with friends. Hector’s approach is an example of
Answer: A
Explanation: Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Cognitive coping refers to the thoughts that are involved in trying to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
69) Which of the following is an example of problem-focused coping?
Answer: C
Explanation: Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Examples of problem-focused coping include working harder and strategizing. Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Examples of emotion-focused coping include avoiding, distancing, and ignoring, as well as looking for the positive in the negative and reappraising.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
70) Seeking support and venting anger are examples of which of the following coping strategies?
Answer: A
Explanation: Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
71) Alisha and Carolina work at the Flash-Frozen Vegetables factory. The company is short-staffed, and the employees are finding it difficult to meet the daily production requirements. Both Alisha and Carolina are facing time pressures in their respective departments. Alisha decides to work longer hours to meet the deadline, whereas Carolina tries to distance herself from her problems at work by thinking about the positive things in her life. Which of these coping strategies is Alisha utilizing?
Answer: B
Explanation: Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
72) Alisha and Carolina work at the Flash-Frozen Vegetables factory. The company is short-staffed, and the employees are finding it difficult to meet the daily production requirements. Both Alisha and Carolina are facing time pressures in their respective departments. Alisha decides to work longer hours to meet the deadline, whereas Carolina tries to distance herself from her problems at work by thinking about the positive things in her life. Which of these coping strategies is Carolina utilizing?
Answer: C
Explanation: Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Cognitive coping refers to the thoughts that are involved in trying to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Behavioral coping
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
73) Looking for the positive in the negative, and avoiding, distancing, and ignoring are examples of
Answer: C
Explanation: Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands. Cognitive coping refers to the thoughts that are involved in trying to deal with a stressful situation.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
74) Raoul owns a furniture moving company. During late spring, especially when the local colleges go on summer break and students move out of the dorms, he finds himself overloaded with work, which often makes him feel irritable and anxious. To calm himself, he often takes time out to go swimming. In this example, the coping strategy that Raoul uses can be classified as
Answer: C
Explanation: In contrast to problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
75) ________ is the emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that results from having to cope with stressful demands on an ongoing basis.
Answer: A
Explanation: Burnout is defined as the emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that results from having to cope with stressful demands on an ongoing basis.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
76) Which if the following is an example of instrumental support?
Answer: D
Explanation: Instrumental support refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly. Emotional support refers to the help people receive in addressing the emotional distress that accompanies stressful demands.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
77) Due to time pressure and heavy workload, Dan has developed high blood pressure and has started to show forgetfulness at work and home. These are examples of ________ strains.
Answer: C
Explanation: Physiological strains that result from stressors occur in at least four systems of the human body. Psychological strains that result from stressors include depression, anxiety, anger, hostility, reduced self-confidence, irritability, inability to think clearly, forgetfulness, lack of creativity, memory loss, and a loss of sense of humor.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
78) Depression, anxiety, and anger reflect ________ strain.
Answer: B
Explanation: Psychological strains that result from stressors include depression, anxiety, anger, hostility, reduced self-confidence, irritability, inability to think clearly, forgetfulness, lack of creativity, memory loss, and a loss of sense of humor.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
79) George is a stockbroker in a leading brokerage firm. Recently, he has been assigned several additional tasks. He begins to consume alcohol to cope with the increasing workload. George also becomes demanding and overly critical of his coworkers and his family. In this example, George is exhibiting ________ strain.
Answer: D
Explanation: Behavioral strains are unhealthy behaviors such as grinding one’s teeth at night, being overly critical and bossy, excessive smoking, compulsive gum chewing, overuse of alcohol, and compulsive eating.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
80) People with the Type A Behavior Pattern are typically
Answer: A
Explanation: “Type A” people tend to be impatient, hard-driving, competitive, controlling, aggressive, and even hostile.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
81) The two major types of social support are
Answer: C
Explanation: Social support refers to the help that people receive when they are confronted with stressful demands, and there are at least two major types. One type of social support is called instrumental support, which refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly. A second type of social support is called emotional support. This type of support refers to the help people receive in addressing the emotional distress that accompanies stressful demands.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Social support
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
82) Which of these refers to the help people receive that addresses the stressful demand directly?
Answer: A
Explanation: One type of social support is called instrumental support, which refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly. For example, if a person is overloaded with work, a coworker could provide instrumental support by taking over some of the work or offering suggestions about how to do the work more efficiently.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
83) Charene is a product development manager for Unique Automotive Accessories. When she was first hired, she proved herself to be one of the most productive new employees. Lately, Charene’s supervisor, Ivan, has noticed that her productivity is slipping from its previous high point. Whenever Ivan stays late at the office, he sees that Charene is always at her desk, eating take-out, and she is always the first to arrive in the morning. He also observes that her e-mail replies are often time-stamped on the weekend. Ivan decides to hire Charene an assistant to ease her workload and improve her work-life balance. Ivan’s approach to alleviating Charene’s stressors is an example of
Answer: D
Explanation: One type of social support is called instrumental support, which refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly. For example, if a person is overloaded with work, a coworker could provide instrumental support by taking over some of the work or offering suggestions about how to do the work more efficiently.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
84) A supervisor appears understanding and empathizes with his subordinates when they experience work-related stress. In this example, the supervisor is providing ________ support.
Answer: B
Explanation: Emotional support refers to the help people receive in addressing the emotional distress that accompanies stressful demands. As an example, the supervisor of the individual who is overloaded with work might provide emotional support by showing interest in the employee’s situation and appearing to be understanding and empathetic.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Emotional support
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
85) Akono is an associate with Wealth Management Partners in Texas. Among various other work commitments, Akono has to compile the annual financial statement for Broadband Express, an important client. It is a job with heavy workload and a short turnaround deadline. Anaya, Akono’s colleague, observed this stressful situation and volunteered to assist Akono in meeting the deadline. The support received by Akono can be best described as ________ support.
Answer: E
Explanation: One type of social support is called instrumental support, which refers to the help people receive that can be used to address the stressful demand directly. For example, if a person is overloaded with work, a coworker could provide instrumental support by taking over some of the work or offering suggestions about how to do the work more efficiently.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
86) Which of the following is an example of a Type A Behavior Pattern?
Answer: C
Explanation: “Type A” people tend to be impatient, hard-driving, competitive, controlling, aggressive, and even hostile.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
87) Which of the following statements is true regarding social support?
Answer: D
Explanation: Social support has the potential to influence the stress process in several different ways. However, most research on social support focuses on the ways that social support buffers the relationship between stressors and strains.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Social support
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
88) A year ago Niantha was promoted to project manager at FeedTheWorld.com, an online charity organization that facilitates the distribution of out-of-date food from supermarkets and restaurants to homeless shelters and food pantries. In an effort to boost productivity and keep the team engaged and relaxed, Niantha implemented a number of light-hearted strategies such as casual Fridays, Random Theme Mondays, and Pajama Wednesdays. Since there is little client contact at the office, she saw no reason for her team to dress formally, and she wanted them to feel as comfortable as possible in the workplace. In order to keep things her team energized and goal-oriented, she created weekly challenge goals and friendly competition among team members by posting the total amount of food each person managed to reclaim that week. As a result of Niantha’s efforts, the team’s productivity skyrocketed in the first three months, with multiple members vying to win the week’s “Biggest Community Helper” award. The team got along well, fraternized after hours, and Niantha’s vice president applauded her department’s improved output. In the past six months, however, productivity has been slipping, and Niantha is puzzled. Looking over her records, she sees that her two best employees, Reggie and Shay, have not missed a single day of work in six months. Niantha did catch Reggie sleeping at his desk once or twice, and Shay recently had a persistent cough. But both of them engage in a friendly rivalry each week as they vie for the top prize, and each seems to respond positively to her demands on their time. Yet, somehow, their overall productivity has ebbed, as has that of the team as a whole. Given what you know about the nature of challenge stressors, how should Niantha address the issue of lost productivity?
Answer: E
Explanation: High levels of challenge stressors may have negative consequences that only become apparent over the long term. People whose jobs are filled with challenge stressors experience strains that can result in illness, but because they tend to be more satisfied, committed, and engaged with their jobs, they come to work anyway. This phenomenon, which is referred to as presenteeism, can result in prolonged illness, as well as the spread of illness, and ultimately a downward spiral of impaired performance and employee health.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
89) Hindrance stressors have a ________ effect on job performance.
Answer: D
Explanation: Hindrance stressors have a weak negative relationship with job performance. A general explanation for this negative relationship is that hindrance stressors result in strains and negative emotions that reduce the overall level of physical, cognitive, and emotional energy that people could otherwise bring to their job duties.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Challenge stressors
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
90) Which of the following situations demonstrates the connection between hindrance stressors and organizational commitment?
Answer: B
Explanation: Hindrance stressors have a strong negative relationship with organizational commitment. People who work at jobs that they know are causing them to feel constantly sick and exhausted will likely be dissatisfied with their jobs and feel less desire to stay with the organization and more desire to consider alternatives.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
91) Hindrance stressors have a ________ relationship with organizational commitment.
Answer: B
Explanation: Hindrance stressors have a strong negative effect on organizational commitment. People who experience higher levels of hindrance stressors tend to feel lower levels of affective commitment and lower levels of normative commitment. Effects on continuance commitment are weaker.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
92) Which of the following statements is true about the effects of stressors?
Answer: E
Explanation: Challenge stressors have a weak relationship with job performance and a moderate relationship with organizational commitment. However, in contrast to the results for hindrance stressors, the relationships are positive rather than negative.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
93) Some highly motivated individuals come to work even though they are suffering from the physiological, psychological, or behavioral strain caused by stress. This phenomenon, known as ________, can result in reductions in productivity even greater than those resulting from employees who avoid work due to the effects of stress.
Answer: A
Explanation: Presenteeism refers to the situation in which employees come to work even though they are suffering physiological, psychological, or behavioral strain. This can result in prolonged illness, the spread of illness, and a downward spiral of impaired performance, which can have even worse effects on productivity than absenteeism.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
94) People who experience higher levels of challenge stressors tend to have higher levels of
Answer: C
Explanation: Employees who experience higher levels of challenge stressors also tend to have higher levels of job performance and organizational commitment.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Job performance
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
95) Attempts to reduce stressors in the workplace are most beneficial when focused on ________ stressors.
Answer: C
Explanation: Reducing stressors is likely to be most beneficial when the focus of the effort is on hindrance stressors.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
96) Miranda is in charge of tracking the output quality of recycled aluminum at Reclaimed Metals. When she went on maternity leave, Silas was brought on in a temporary capacity to cover her position during her absence. The department manager, Rochelle, knew that the company’s rapid growth had increased Miranda’s workload over recent months, and she wanted to ensure Miranda would not have to work overtime upon her return since Miranda would have a new baby at home. In order to allow Miranda to ease back into work upon her return and to account for increased work demands due to future company growth, Rochelle decided to hire Silas permanently to handle the quality assurance responsibilities with Miranda. This arrangement is known as
Answer: B
Explanation: Job sharing does not mean splitting one job into two but rather indicates that two people share the responsibilities of a single job, as if the two people were a single performing unit. It can be used to reduce role overload and foster work-life balance.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Job sharing
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
97) By providing ________, organizations aim to increase job-related competencies and skills that help employees to cope with stressful demands.
Answer: C
Explanation: Organizations provide resources to employees through training interventions aimed at increasing job-related competencies and skills. Training that increases employee competencies and skills is also beneficial to the extent that it promotes a sense that the demands are more controllable.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
98) A compressed workweek, telecommuting, on-site child care and flextime are all examples of
Answer: B
Explanation: Supportive practices such as a compressed workweek, full-time telecommuting, on-site child care, and flextime help employees manage and balance the demands that exist in the different roles they have.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
99) Indira manages a team of people in the accounting department at Financial Partners, LLP. The company has been in buyout talks with a large competitor for the past few months. As the merger deal nears completion, Indira started noticing a change in her team’s conduct. One of the collection agents, Malcolm, is taking longer lunches and often returns reeking of alcohol. She observed Akobo, the accounts receivable supervisor, uncharacteristically lashing out at vendors on the phone. Her own assistant, Marjorie, started nervously tapping her feet and pulling at her hair during meetings. Indira is worried about her team and their well-being. According to the protocols of assessment, which of the following actions will help Indira best understanding her team’s issues?
Answer: E
Explanation: The first step in managing stress is to assess the level and sources of stress in the workplace. Although there are many ways to accomplish this type of evaluation, often referred to as a stress audit, managers can begin by asking themselves questions about the nature of the jobs in their organization to estimate whether high stress levels may be a problem. The first category of questions might involve the degree to which the organization is going through changes that would likely increase uncertainty among employees. As an example, a merger between two companies might increase employees’ uncertainty about their job security and possible career paths. A second category of questions might center on the work itself. These questions typically focus on the level and types of stressors experienced by the employees.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
100) As an alternative to managing stressors, many organizations teach employees to use ________ to counteract the effects of stressors by engaging in activities that slow the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Answer: B
Explanation: Relaxation techniques teach people how to counteract the effects of stressors by engaging in activities that slow the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
101) Which of these techniques attempt(s) to help people appraise and cope with stressors in a more rational manner?
Answer: D
Explanation: Cognitive-behavioral techniques attempt to help people appraise and cope with stressors in a more rational manner.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
102) Veronica is feeling stressed and has asked her manager if there are any supportive practices available to help her. Her manager suggests that since Veronica is interested in environmental issues, she should take advantage of a program that would enable her to take six months away from the company to work on the local “reclaim the bay” initiative. Veronica’s manager is offering her
Answer: A
Explanation: Some organizations help their employees cope with stress by offering them the opportunity to take a sabbatical—paid or unpaid time off to engage in alternative activities.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
103) A majority of all ________ are attributable to stress-related causes.
Answer: B
Explanation: Estimates are that between 60 and 90 percent of all doctor visits can be attributed to stress-related causes.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
104) The process by which managers evaluate the nature of the jobs in their organization to determine if high stress levels are an issue is known as a(n)
Answer: A
Explanation: Using an evaluation called a stress audit, managers can begin to ask themselves questions about the nature of the jobs in their organization to estimate whether high stress levels may be a problem.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
105) Mohammed, who managed an IT department at the corporate headquarters of the retail clothing chain Real Cheap Shirts, noticed one of his best technicians, Mia, was often coming in late, and when she was on time, she was distracted and harried. She occasionally ran diagnostic tests on the wrong systems or lost focus when presenting her weekly recap reports to the team. Mohammed asked if something was going on, and Mia admitted that her grandfather, whom she lived with, was showing signs of dementia, and she was trying her best to care for him alone, but it was hard to do that and commit 100 percent to her work duties. Mohammed proposed to alter Mia’s work requirements such that she could work whatever hours she wanted to, including some telecommuting from home, as long as she completed her assigned tasks by the end of each week. Mia smiled when she heard this and was grateful that her boss was so understanding. In allowing Mia to have altered work hours, Mohammed was utilizing
Answer: C
Explanation: Supportive practices help employees manage and balance the demands that exist in different roles they have. Examples of supportive practices include flextime, part-time telecommuting, compressed workweeks, and onsite child care.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
106) Distinguish between a stressor and a strain, and give one example of each.
Answer: Student answers and examples will vary but should demonstrate understanding of the difference between stressors and strains. A sample answer follows.
The demands that cause people to experience stress are called stressors. The negative consequences that occur when demands tax or exceed a person’s capacity or resources are called strains. People differ in terms of how they perceive and evaluate stressors and the way they cope with them. As a result, different people may experience different levels of stress even when confronted with the exact same situation.
An example of a stressor is equipment failure that hinders job performance, such as a copier that jams repeatedly and prevents an employee from assembling weekly reports on time. An example of a strain is the tension headache that same employee suffers as a result of the frustration caused by the faulty copier.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
107) Explain the transactional theory of stress.
Answer: The transactional theory of stress explains how stressors are perceived and appraised, as well as how people respond to those perceptions and appraisals. When people first encounter stressors, the process of primary appraisal is triggered. Primary appraisal occurs as people evaluate the significance and the meaning of the stressor they are confronting. Here, people first consider whether a demand causes them to feel stressed, and if it does, they consider the implications of the stressor in terms of their personal goals and overall well-being. Job demands that tend not to be appraised as stressful are called benign job demands.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Transactional theory of stress
Learning Objective: 05-01 What is stress, and how is it related to stressors and strains?
Bloom’s: Remember
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
108) Describe the nature of hindrance stressors, and give one example each of three different hindrance stressors.
Answer: Student answers and examples will vary but should demonstrate understanding of hindrance stressors. A sample answer follows.
Hindrance stressors are stressful demands that people tend to perceive as hindering their progress toward personal accomplishments or goal attainment. Hindrance stressors most often trigger negative emotions such as anxiety and anger. Work hindrance stressors include role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, and daily hassles. Nonwork hindrance stressors include work-family conflict, negative life events, and financial uncertainty.
One example of the work hindrance stressor role overload is a lawyer who has so many clients that she ends up working late every night and every weekend to keep up with her workload. An example of the nonwork hindrance stressor negative life events is an employee going through a divorce that affects her attitude at work and results in negative emotions. An example of the work hindrance stressor role conflict is a grocery cashier who is required to check out customers as quickly as possible but who is also asked to be polite and sociable with customers. Talking leisurely with customers, while fostering a warm atmosphere in the store, can work against the goal of fast checkout.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-02 What are the four main types of stressors?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
109) Christopher works as a financial analyst in an investment firm. Because several of his colleagues recently resigned from the firm, he has had to take over extra responsibilities. His manager notices that Christopher has started smoking heavily and often gets irritable with his coworkers. What kind of strain is Christopher experiencing? If you were his manager, what kind of coping mechanism would you prefer that he use to cope with the stress?
Answer: Student answers will vary but should demonstrate understanding of behavioral strains and potential coping mechanisms. A sample answer follows.
Christopher is experiencing behavioral strains. Behavioral strains are unhealthy behaviors such as grinding one’s teeth at night, being overly critical and bossy, excessive smoking, compulsive gum chewing, overuse of alcohol, and compulsive eating. The coping strategy that Christopher uses will ultimately have important implications for how effectively he can meet or adapt to the different stressors that he faces. A manager would most likely want subordinates to cope with the stress of heavy workload by using a problem-focused strategy—working harder—rather than an emotion-focused strategy—leaving work several hours early to create distance from the stressor. Students’ answers to the last part of the question will vary.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
110) Explain the four broad categories of coping, and give an example of each.
Answer: Student answers and examples will vary. A sample answer follows.
Coping involves different activities that can be grouped into four broad categories based on two dimensions. The first dimension refers to the method of coping, and the second dimension refers to the focus of coping. Behavioral coping involves the set of physical activities that are used to deal with a stressful situation. Cognitive coping refers to the thoughts that are involved in trying to deal with a stressful situation. Problem-focused coping refers to behaviors and cognitions intended to manage the stressful situation itself. Emotion-focused coping refers to the various ways in which people manage their own emotional reactions to stressful demands.
An example of behavioral coping would be a copywriter working on a tight deadline choosing to work faster and harder to meet the goal successfully. An example of cognitive coping would be a sewer repairperson focusing her thoughts on the good her job is doing for the community rather than being disgusted by the unpleasant odors she is mired in day after day. An example of problem-focused coping would be a mail carrier who spent time to work out the most efficient route for delivering the mail in his service area to make sure he got home on time each day. An example of emotion-focused coping would be a construction worker who was afraid of heights seeking counseling to ease his anxiety.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-03 How do individuals cope with stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
111) Tina is a highly ambitious graphic designer. She has a constant sense of urgency and tends to be impatient with persons who do not live up to her sense of perfection. Her general activity level is very high, and she sets high standards for herself work-wise. She puts much more effort into her work than other people do. What type of behavior pattern does she have? How would this influence her work? Are there any risks associated with her behavior pattern?
Answer: Tina exhibits Type A Behavior Pattern. Such people have a strong sense of time urgency and tend to be impatient, hard-driving, competitive, controlling, aggressive, and even hostile. They also have a strong desire to achieve. Tina, being a Type A individual, is more likely to appraise demands as being stressful rather than being benign. Her hard-driving competitiveness could make her hypersensitive to demands that could potentially affect her progress toward goal attainment. Tina may be more prone to interpersonal conflict. Students’ answers will vary for the last response. The Type A Behavior Pattern has been directly linked to coronary heart disease and other physiological, psychological, and behavioral strains.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-04 How does the Type A Behavior Pattern influence the stress process?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
112) Explain the concept of presenteeism, and describe the effects it has on workplace productivity.
Answer: High levels of challenge stressors may have negative consequences that only become apparent over the long term. People whose jobs are filled with challenge stressors experience strains that can result in illness, but because they tend to be more satisfied, committed, and engaged with their jobs, they come to work anyway. This phenomenon, which is referred to as presenteeism, can result in prolonged illness, as well as the spread of illness, and ultimately a downward spiral of impaired performance and employee health. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that the reductions in productivity that result from presenteeism are even larger than reductions in productivity that result from employee absenteeism.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-05 How does stress affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
113) FinSmart, a finance firm, plans to hire a psychological counselor to help employees cope with stress. The firm also holds relaxation trainings and plans to build a recreation room where employees can relax. The finance manager of the firm feels that these are unnecessary costs. How would you counter his argument?
Answer: Student answers will vary but should demonstrate understanding of how organizations can help reduce stress for their employees.
Employee stress results in strains that cost organizations in terms of reduced employee performance and commitment. Health-related costs are driven to a great extent by employee stress. Estimates are that between 60 percent and 90 percent of all doctor visits can be attributed to stress-related causes, and the cost of providing health care to people who experience high levels of stress appears to be approximately 50 percent higher than for those who experience lower levels of stress. The relationship between stress and health care costs means that there could be huge dividends for FinSmart if it manages employees’ stress more effectively.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Apply
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
114) What is a stress audit? Explain how to reduce stressors and strains.
Answer: A stress audit is an assessment of the level and sources of stress in the workplace. This is the first step in managing stress. If a stress audit reveals that stress may be a problem, then alternative courses of action must be taken into consideration. Managing or reducing stressors is one general course of action. One way an organization could reduce stressors is to try to eliminate or significantly reduce stressful demands. Job sharing is an example of this approach. This is to reduce role overload and foster work-life balance. As an alternative to managing stressors, many organizations use practices that reduce strains. One type of strain-reducing practice involves relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and miscellaneous calming activities. Another practice involves cognitive-behavioral techniques. These techniques tend to help people appraise and cope with stressors in a more rational manner. A third practice involves health and wellness programs. These are comprehensive efforts that include health screening and health-related courses and information.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
115) The organization must help its employees cope with stress. List the various resources an organization can provide to help employees cope with stressors.
Answer: Student answers will vary but should demonstrate understanding of methods and resources organizations can use to help employees cope with stressors. A sample answer follows.
One way that organizations provide resources to employees is through training interventions aimed at increasing job-related competencies and skills. Employees who possess more competencies and skills can handle more demands before they begin to appraise these demands as overly taxing or exceeding their capacity. Training that increases employee competencies and skills is also beneficial to the extent that it promotes a sense that the demands are more controllable, and a sense of control promotes problem-focused coping strategies. A second way that organizations provide resources to employees so that they can cope more effectively is through supportive practices that help employees manage and balance the demands that exist in the different roles they have. For example, organizations use flextime to give employees some degree of latitude in terms of which hours they need to be present at the workplace. Flexible working hours give employees the ability to cope with demands away from work, so they do not have to worry about these demands while they are at work. Some organizations allow telecommuting on a part-time basis.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
116) Describe the practices that organizations use to reduce employee strains.
Answer: As an alternative to managing stressors, many organizations use practices that reduce strains. Some organizations use relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and miscellaneous calming activities like taking walks, writing in a journal, and deep breathing. Although these relaxation techniques differ, the basic idea is the same—they teach people how to counteract the effects of stressors by engaging in activities that slow the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Cognitive-behavioral techniques attempt to help people appraise and cope with stressors in a more rational manner. To understand what these techniques involve, think of someone you know who not only exaggerates the level and importance of stressful demands but also predicts doom and disaster after quickly concluding that the demands simply cannot be met. Strain-reducing practices involve health and wellness programs. The nature of these programs and resources varies a great deal from organization to organization, but in general, they’re comprehensive efforts that include health screening (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, pulmonary functioning) and health-related courses and information. Other examples of health and wellness programs intended to reduce strain include smoking cessation programs, on-site fitness centers or fitness center memberships, and weight loss and nutrition programs.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Stress
Learning Objective: 05-06 What steps can organizations take to manage employee stress?
Bloom’s: Understand
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
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Original price was: $30.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
Original price was: $30.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
Original price was: $30.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
Original price was: $30.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
Original price was: $30.00.$20.00Current price is: $20.00.
